Ok, so what's to stop hackers developing their own authenticator to obtain the service's secret key and use stolen user data to raid, say, a bank account?
Or,
Hacking into the authenticator app on a stolen device to obtain a service's secret key and doing the same thing?
I mean, what is it that makes them so secure?
Good question! The security of authenticator apps depends on a few factors:
1. The secret key: The shared secret key used to generate the OTPs is stored securely on the server or in a database, and is not accessible by the user or the authenticator app. This makes it difficult for hackers to obtain the key.
2. Time-based OTPs: The OTPs generated by the authenticator app are time-based and valid for only a short period of time (typically 30 seconds). This means that even if a hacker were to somehow obtain a valid OTP, it would only be valid for a short period of time and would not be useful for future login attempts.
3. Encryption: The communication between the server and the authenticator app is typically encrypted to prevent eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.
4. Device-specific: Authenticator apps are typically tied to a specific device and cannot be transferred without going through a migration process. This makes it difficult for hackers to obtain the secret key by stealing a device.
5. Multi-factor authentication: Authenticator apps are often used in conjunction with another form of authentication, such as a password or biometric identification, which provides an additional layer of security.
While authenticator apps are not foolproof and can still be vulnerable to attacks, they are generally considered more secure than traditional password-based authentication.